High torque load power rotary recliner with anti-back drive capability and reduced backlash for car seat

A recliner mechanism for a seat assembly having a seatback and a seat bottom, the recliner mechanism comprising:

• a first locking plate coupled to one of the seatback and the seat bottom and having a first inner diametrical surface having first teeth formed thereon, the first locking plate defining a first recess;
• a second locking plate coupled to the other of the seatback and the seat bottom and having a second inner diametrical surface having second teeth formed thereon;
• and
• an encapsulating ring attached to one of the first and second locking plates and defining a second recess that cooperates with the first recess to form a curved slot, wherein the second locking plate includes a protrusion that is received in the slot and is configured to traverse the curved slot.

A recliner mechanism comprising:

• a first locking plate having a first inner diametrical surface having first teeth formed thereon;
• a second locking plate having a second inner diametrical surface having second teeth formed thereon;
• a locking ring assembly having first and second locking rings, the first locking ring having a first outer diametrical surface having third teeth formed thereon and the second locking ring having a second outer diametrical surface having fourth teeth formed thereon, some of the third teeth are meshingly engaged with some of the first teeth and some of the fourth teeth are meshingly engaged with some of the second teeth;
• and
• a biasing ring axially biasing the first and second locking rings into engagement with the first and second locking plates, respectively.